Ok, so this post might be a little over due. When I was pregnant, I loved reading other blogger's baby essentials posts, and seeing what else everyone loved. It felt a little weird writing my own too soon, though. Being a new mom and everything. How much did I really know? But now that I'm over a year in to this motherhood thing, I feel like I'm finally able to truthfully tell you what items we honestly couldn't live without during that first year.

This list could be a lot longer. Of course you need a good carseat, stroller, swing, diapers (we love Target's Up&Up, btw) and a lot of other things. But these are the smaller items that have gotten so much use over and over during her first year (and some still!).

And P.S - this is in no way a sponsored post. Just items that I really love <3.

1. & 2. Beaba Babycook and WeeSprout Reusable Pouches - I was determined to make P's baby food from then start, and this made it so simple. Even though she no longer needs purees as her main food source, I still use it almost daily to make smoothies and fill squeeze pouches.

3. Freshly Picked Moccasins - Obsessed. They were her first shoes, and still almost the only the only ones she wears. We've had other shoes for her from big name brands. But no shoes stay on her feet like these do. And they're soft soled, which is better for her developing feet.

4. Owlet Baby Monitor - this may actually be my #1 most recommended baby item. Love love love. They wear it on their foot and it monitors their oxygen level and heart rate while they sleep, setting off an alarm if their numbers get too low. P never had any scary sleep incidents, but that doesn't mean I didn't have some major anxiety about it. Especially with her sleeping in her own crib in a different room from so early on. She actually JUST stopped wearing it every night.

5. Nest Cam - Honestly, I've never tried any other baby monitors, so I can't compare. But we love our Nest Cam, and that we can access it from our phones and iPads. Wherever we are. When I was hospitalized last September and P was at home at night with Zach, I was able to tune into her bedtime routine from hospital bed and actually slept with my phone next to me with the camera pulled up.

7. Mama & Little teething jewelry - P started teething early and chewed on eeeeeeverything. Some teething jewelry is kinda.... eh. But Mama & Little's is so stylish. And i found myself wearing it even when P wasn't with me.

8. & 9. - Solly Baby Wrap and Sakura Bloom Sling - Baby wearing. A LIFESAVER. Seriously. I love wearing Penny. The Solly wrap was our go-to when she was smaller. I got the sling secondhand, and have been using it a lot now that she's bigger. We also have an Ergo carrier that gets a lot of use, too.

10. Nested Bean Swaddle - Penny was a little finicky when she was really small. She liked to be swaddled, but that little beast would break out of almost every swaddle and then get really mad. Except for Nested Bean. It was our go-to. And the weighted center that felt like a a parent's touch is a bonus.

11. Baby Deedee Sleep Sack - She's been in a sleep sack from the moment she outgrew the swaddle. She loves her Baby DeeDee (we use the lightweight one in warmer months, and the heavyweight one in winter). But Nested Bean makes a sleep sack tonal would love to try that as well!

12. Gathre Mats - these things are genius. We have a medium mat that we take with us everywhere, from the park to the beach to camping, etc. As well as a high chair mat for underneath her chair. Water just rolls right off, and they wipe up and clean up so easily.

13. Comotomo Bottles - I know this is one of those things where every baby is different. There are a lot of different options out there and different babies take to different bottles. P would only take to these ones. I would recommend giving them a try if you're trying to find the right one for your baby!

14. & 15. - Muchkin 360 cup and Lollaland Lollacup - P didn't really like sip cups at first, until we tried the 360 cups and now she's hooked. They don't spill, and she'll be better prepared when its time to drink out of a regular cup. And The Lollacups we use for her smoothies. They're so cute! Plus the two-part straw is weighted and easy to clean.